I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 1: The life that came to be.

His name was Itachi Uchiha. Born in the village Hidden in the Leaves on June 9th, year unknown. It was a sunny day as his cries ran throughout the hospital, but it was a precious day, for the entire Uchiha clan, for it was the day, when the first born of the clan leader had arrived. Itachi Uchiha. No one knew that this would be the boy to kill them all. No one knew that this would be the boy, who betrayed them, murdered his own kind for the sake of Konoha. Indeed this would be his future, his fate that was already written in stone. No one would suspect that this little infant, crying blindly in his mother's arms, would lead to some much pain and destruction to the entire leaf village.

But then again, that was just his future. Right now, Itachi was pure in spirit and body as his dangerous path in life was not yet ready for him. Yet, that is.

Four years had passed.

"Come on Itachi!" his mom said happily, on her knees and stretching her arm out. Lately, Itachi was capable walking on his own, but because of a recent accident, he leg was irritating him.

"I can do it myself mom." He replied as he limped across the room. His mom smiled and managed to say that 'it was cute.' Itachi rolled his eyes. "Don't say cute mom, it makes me sound like a girl or something." Itachi complained and sat down. It was almost time for lunch and Itachi's dad was expected to arrive home anytime soon. Itachi's dad was the leader of, not only the Uchiha clan, but also he was the head of the police department. Itachi had been told that the police department was created so the Uchiha's would have the chance to bond with the rest of the village. Itachi saw no reason why the other villagers eyed the Uchiha's strangely or why the part of the village the Uchiha's lived in was the west corner, far from anyone else. It was like the Uchiha's were penned up. Itachi himself asked his father one day.

"No son, it's nothing like that." His father had once told him as he ruffled his hair. "We Uchiha's just like to live together, like a giant family. We just have to stick together and not mix too much with the other clans."

Still, as Itachi stared down into his miso soup, he still had questions floating around. It was very mysterious indeed. Did the villagers hate them this much?

"I'm home." A voice called out in the hallway. Immediately, Itachi's mom got up and made her way to the door.

"Itachi honey, don't you want to welcome your father? He's been working very hard lately." His mother suggested. Itachi straightened his back and got up slowly. He looked at his mother.

"Yes mother." He said plainly and followed his mother. Itachi's father was in the middle of taking off his sandals. Even though it was cold outside, sandals were best for fighting and traveling in. Itachi stood beside his mother and waited until he was noticed to speak.

"Itachi," His father said looking down at his only son. "How are you today? How's your leg?"

"Very well, thank you father." Itachi answered back. He was received with a warm smile from his father. Itachi returned the smile, but said nothing. He was usually a quiet person. He spoke very little, but observed quite a lot. For example, he could tell that his father had tripped on the way back home because of a small dirt smear on his right hand knuckle.

"Itachi." His father called and Itachi was forced to look up. "Isn't tomorrow the first day of academy for you?" He asked. Itachi followed his father into the kitchen.

"Yes, father." Itachi replied sitting down at the table again. It was very promising for the Uchiha clan that Itachi was permitted to enter the academy of such a young age. Even when his father suggested to the teachers, they were shocked and just laughed. But Itachi was given a chance to prove himself, and the results were shattering. The stuff that he could manage was that equal to a seven year old. Itachi could perform basic calculations, analyze simple problems and had the stamina for the training that was taught at the academy. Itachi then had the special privilege of entering the academy, and the Uchiha clan was blessed. Itachi practiced everyday, to the point where his ankle was injured. But that didn't stop him. He found other ways to improve himself, other than training. He kept himself busy with the family books. He looked at the hand signs and tried to copy them. Itachi was indeed a precious gem.

However, though Itachi never showed it, he was lonely. Plain and simple. He was the star of the Uchiha clan, but he never had the chance to make friends of his own. He was always too busy. He was training, reading or being taught by his father. So being able to attend the village's academy might be his first chance to make friends. The idea alone was enough to make any little child feel queasy, but Itachi was a born liar. His showed no emotion on his face, or his voice. Exactly what was expected as him, as a ninja.

Itachi sipped at his miso soup. He replied when his father asked him questions and explained what he accomplished today. His father then explained to him and his mother what happened in the world of the police. Itachi listened intently, but made no comment. He knew about the Konaha police force. It was founded by the second hokage and it was to strengthen the bond between the Uchiha's and the rest of the village. However, Itachi wasn't too sure. There was just something that wasn't adding up. Still, Itachi knew his place in the family and in the clan and he was in no position to ask questions.

"I am finished mother." Itachi replied, holding up his bowl.
"Itachi, dear." His mother said getting up, "let me put the bowl in the sink for you, your ankle isn't healed yet." Itachi rolled his eyes.

"Mother," He protested, placing his bowl carefully in the sink. "I'm not a cripple, I can do it myself and besides, I need the exercise." Itachi left the kitchen and went to his room. Below he could hear his parents talking to each other. Itachi closed the door behind him and walked to his bed. In truth, his ankle was hurting him a bit, but if he was going to become a full fledged ninja, a little pain from his ankle should be nothing to worry about. There was quite a lot of stuff in his room. Beside his bed was a table. It had a lamp and paper there. Nothing was written on it of course, Itachi never let anyone see his private information. A blue carpet was spread beside his bed with the Uchiha sign in the middle. The window in his room was bare, but it allowed a cool breeze to fly into his room. There was also many books and ninja equipment that littered his room. He lay there for a few minutes and relaxed for a moment. It was nice to hear the outside once and a while. Itachi sighed lying on this back on his bed staring up at the ceiling. Again, another Uchiha symbol glared back at him. Red and white, red and white…what did these colours really mean? Why were there so many people in the Uchiha clan that were so secretive? So may questions flowed through the young Uchiha's brain that he couldn't even understand it.

"Itachi!" His father called form downstairs. "Time for a bit of training, before it gets dark!" He added. Closing his eyes, and looking down at his reddened ankle, Itachi slowly made his way downstairs again and ready for another day of being a ninja. Another day, that was destined for him.

-

"Itachi, come on, you're going to be late!" His mother, Mikoto said gently, holding out her hand for him. It was his first 'official' day at the academy, but Itachi himself wasn't worried. He had been there numerous times before. It's just today; there were a lot of older children present as well.

"Yes, mother." And paused at the top of the stairs before coming down. Did she really want him to hold her hand all the way to the academy? He was old enough on his own. Of course, his size right now didn't prove that. Sighing, Itachi explained this to his mother.

"Mom, if I'm old enough to go to the academy, then can't I walk on my own?" He whined, pushing his hand back. Smiling Mikoto replied. "Maybe if you reach my waist you can walk on your own Mr., but for now, hold my hand."

"But…" Itachi thought about his argument in a way that wouldn't hurt his mother's feelings. "It's embarrassing!"

"Oh, but you're just so cute!" His mother said finally grabbing his hand. Itachi made no attempt to let go. If mom were going to do something, then she'd do it. No point arguing there. Not even father could have disagreed with her. Reluctantly, Itachi held his mother's hand, while the other hand rested on his backpack strap. It was his first day…maybe he would make friends! When the academy came into view, Itachi pretended to itch his head, making his mother releasing her grip on him without knowing it. Students were running around, screaming, laughing and having fun. Everyone was smiling, some nervously, and some more boldly. Itachi resisted the urge to run, besides, his ankle was healing.

"Why don't you go and play with the other children?"Mikoto, suggested, giving him an encouraged push on the back. As Itachi was about to step forward, another hand halted him from the front. Itachi looked up. It was his father, Fugaku.

"F-father." Itachi said, quite surprised. Last time he asked, his father shooed him away because he was too busy with work to come to the ceremony today. Fugaku looked down at his son and then at Mikoto.

"I just thought Itachi should learn to interact with his other classmates…" She began to explain, when Fugaku waved an arm.

"He doesn't need any friends." His father said sternly. Itachi blinked, but made no comment. This was the first time his father said he couldn't do something so harshly.

"But-" Mikoto began, reaching out to her husband, to try to convince him otherwise. He turned sharply towards her.

"They're just going to be some wimpy kid he'll have attachments for. It's only going to slow him down as a ninja." He explained, in a very order-like way. "Perhaps a few years from now, he's in a battle field and his so called 'friend' falls from his side, injured, perhaps dead. Maybe it's that small hesitation to stop and help his friend that will get him killed."

"He's only four years old." His mother protested. His father nodded.

"Good, then it's good if he learns that now, instead of later." He turned to look at his son, who stared back at him with confusion and disappointment. His father's expression eased a bit. His hand rested on Itachi head.

"I know you want to play son, I know. But, I want what's best for you. I want you to become the best possible ninja you can be and make the clan proud."

"…Yes father." Itachi said but did so as if it sounded painful to do. Why couldn't be play with the other kids? He glanced over at them now, as they ran freely across the lawn, their parents talking to each other as they watched them with pride. For the first time in his life, Itachi experienced the feeling of jealousy, though he didn't know it at the time. Itachi remained with his parents until the bell rang and class was to begin. Itachi said goodbye to his parents as they waved him off and departed. His first day of school…how would this be like?

Well, this is my first all exclusive Itachi fanfiction. Hope that you enjoyed it! I will try to update soon, but then again, don't hold your breath! :P Thank you for taking the time to read it and please, if you could spare the time to write a review, it really helps writers like me. Thank you once again and all the best in the coming year!

-Itachianimefan. ^_^